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June 7, 2012

Book Review: A Stolen Life by Jaycee Dugard

For those of those of you who don't know who Jaycee Dugard is, she was kidnapped in 1991 at the age of 11 by Phillip and Nancy Garrido. She was held captive in the Garrido backyard for 18 years, during which she was repeatedly raped and gave birth to two daughters. This book is memoir of Jaycee's years in captivity. She details the day she was kidnapped, her life while living with her abductors, and her rescue and reunification with her family 18 years later.

I read this book in less than 24 hours. I was hooked from the beginning and didn't want to put the book down. What I liked most was that this is a true story. This girl really had to live through this misery, and it's shocking that these people were able to get away with it for so long. It wasn't the most well-written book I've ever read, but I think it adds to the reality of what happened. However, one question is lingering over me, and that is, she had so many chances to escape. Why didn't she ever try to leave? I keep thinking about Elizabeth Smart. During the years she was kidnapped she knew she had to get home, and everything she did was done in order for her to get back to her family. I don't understand how or why Jaycee Dugard did not do the same thing. But she did eventually get back to her family, and it's remarkable that she survived.

I'm really into murderers, kidnappings, and crimes. I just think it's fascinating that some people are able to live with themselves after doing so much wrong and hurting so many people. So a book like this is really interesting me. Not only do we get to see what Jaycee endured, but we also get an idea of just how crazy the Garridos were. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone, if not for the actual story but just to show people how precious our lives are and to appreciate all that we have because we never really know or realize how fast everything can be taken away. And like I said, I read it in less than a day. It's a quick read. Definitely worth your time.